What This Treatment Is

MAT aftercare is the continuing-care phase of Medication-Assisted Treatment — the months and often years after initial stabilization is complete. Recovery from opioid or alcohol use disorder is a long-term clinical picture, and aftercare is where durable outcomes are built. It is not a step-down to nothing; it is a step-down to a lower-intensity but still clinically active phase. For Calabasas residents, most aftercare visits can be delivered by telehealth after the initial in-person work.

What Aftercare Covers

Continued MAT medication management at reduced visit frequency (typically monthly), ongoing therapy at a step-down cadence (weekly to biweekly), relapse-prevention skill work, life-context coaching, coordination with any co-occurring psychiatric care, and rapid-access response if a setback happens. The therapeutic relationship — same provider, same therapist when possible — is designed to continue.

Who MAT Aftercare Is For

Patients who have completed initial MAT stabilization (typically 3-6 months) and are ready for a lower-intensity but still structured continuing-care phase. Aftercare fits maintenance patients, patients tapering off medication on a planned schedule, and patients who have completed a taper but want clinical support during the highest-risk months post-taper.

Our Care Model: Specialty-Led, Distinct Primary Tracks

Elevated Healing operates separate primary treatment tracks for Mental Health and Substance Use, each led by the appropriate clinical specialty from day one. When both are present, our teams coordinate care across tracks so the full clinical picture is addressed without collapsing treatment into a single generalized program.

This is different from a blended or generalized model. Read more on our Care Model page.

Elevated Healing’s Specialty-Led Approach

For Calabasas patients, our aftercare model uses telehealth as the default for continuing care, which makes long-term engagement practical for people whose lives are demanding. Occasional in-person visits at the Woodland Hills campus (~15 min via US-101) fill in when clinically needed.

Practically:

  • Aftercare plan built collaboratively before step-down from active treatment.
  • MAT medication management at monthly cadence — many follow-ups eligible for telehealth.
  • Therapy at weekly-to-biweekly frequency, focused on relapse prevention and life integration.
  • Vivitrol patients continue monthly in-person injections at the Woodland Hills campus.
  • Rapid-access protocol if a setback happens.
  • Coordinated care with any co-occurring psychiatric team continues.
Evidence base. Extended continuing care after acute MAT stabilization improves long-term retention and reduces relapse rates, per research summarized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Access from Calabasas

Our physical location is at 21250 Califa St, Ste 114, Woodland Hills, CA 91367, about a 15-minute drive from Calabasas via US-101 in normal traffic.

  • From central Calabasas — US-101 East, exit at Winnetka Avenue or De Soto Avenue, then a short drive north.
  • From Hidden Hills or Woodland Hills-adjacent areas — many patients complete the trip in under 15 minutes.
  • From Agoura Hills or Westlake Village — allow about 20–25 minutes via US-101.
  • Telehealth — after your initial in-person assessment, most follow-up psychiatric visits can be done by video across California, reducing travel burden for maintenance and step-down care.

New patients typically complete their initial evaluation in person; ongoing follow-up can be scheduled remotely when clinically appropriate.

Program Levels That Deliver This Care

This service is delivered inside the level of care that matches your clinical need at intake. Level of care can shift over time as treatment progresses.

Partial Hospitalization (PHP)

Structured day program, five days per week, with psychiatric oversight and integrated therapy.

Learn about PHP

Intensive Outpatient (IOP)

Three-to-five sessions per week that allow work or school to continue.

Learn about IOP

Outpatient (OP)

Weekly therapy plus regular psychiatric visits — well-suited to step-down maintenance.

Learn about OP

Telehealth Follow-Up

Video visits with the psychiatric provider, available across California for eligible patients.

Learn about telehealth

Insurance, Cost, and Getting Started

Most commercial insurance plans cover mat aftercare under mental health and substance use disorder benefits, which are subject to federal parity requirements under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Parity means insurers cannot impose stricter limits on behavioral health services than they apply to physical health services — a real legal protection worth knowing you have when you call.

The first step is a conversation with our admissions team. This call is free, confidential, and carries no obligation. During it, we:

  • Verify your insurance benefits within one business day.
  • Confirm what’s covered, what your copay or coinsurance will be, and whether prior authorization applies.
  • Start any required prior authorization on your behalf so you’re not stuck on hold with your insurer.
  • Schedule a clinical evaluation — usually within a few business days of your first call, sooner when the situation is time-sensitive.

If insurance doesn’t cover the service or your plan design doesn’t fit, self-pay options can be discussed. There is no charge to have this conversation. Reach us at (747) 888-3000 or use our insurance verification form.

What Progress Looks Like

Recovery through mat aftercare is not a straight line, and durable clinical outcomes rarely happen in weeks. Realistic timelines matter here more than optimistic promises. Most patients notice measurable improvement in the first month of consistent treatment — reduced cravings, more stable mood, better sleep, easier engagement with therapy. Substantive behavioral change typically takes root over three to six months.

Progress is reviewed at every clinical visit. We measure it in specifics: frequency of the target behavior, functional recovery in work and relationships, sleep quality, and — where medications are involved — how well the pharmacology is holding cravings and side effects. When something isn’t working, we adjust. That might mean a dose change, a therapy focus shift, or a step up or down in level of care. The plan follows the patient’s clinical picture, not the other way around.

Setbacks are treated as clinical data, not moral failure. If a relapse or symptom flare happens, the team’s job is to understand what led to it and refine the plan. Patients are not discharged for a relapse. Long-term recovery is often what happens after the acute treatment phase ends, and we plan for that from the first visit — through aftercare planning, coordinated hand-offs, and telehealth follow-up available across California.

Confidentiality and HIPAA Protections

Treatment records at Elevated Healing are protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and, for substance use records specifically, under 42 CFR Part 2 — a federal regulation providing additional protection for substance use disorder treatment information. That means treatment status and clinical details are not disclosed to family members, employers, or third parties without your written authorization, except in narrowly defined legal circumstances (imminent harm, court order).

Practical protections include HIPAA-compliant scheduling and communication systems, secure insurance verification channels, and billing structured to minimize what appears on statements. Patients with heightened confidentiality concerns can request specific accommodations at intake — arrival timing, check-in flow, telehealth-first scheduling — and our admissions team will confirm what’s available.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much of aftercare can Calabasas patients do via telehealth?
Most of it. Once stability is established, psychiatric medication management, individual therapy, and continuing-care check-ins can be done by video for California residents. Vivitrol injections and any acute clinical concerns are handled in-person at the Woodland Hills campus.
How long does aftercare last?
No fixed duration. Some patients continue for 6-12 months; some stay engaged for years on maintenance medication. Duration is a clinical decision based on your response, goals, and risk profile.
What if I want to taper off medication?
Tapering is a clinical decision made together, planned gradually, and never forced. Some patients taper successfully; others benefit from longer maintenance. Aftercare provides the structure to support tapering and to respond quickly if craving increases.
What happens if I relapse during aftercare?
Relapse is treated as a clinical event, not a moral failure. The team adjusts the plan — dose change, therapy focus shift, or temporary step-up in intensity. Patients are not discharged for a relapse.
Is aftercare the same as maintenance?
Related but distinct. Maintenance refers to continued medication use. Aftercare refers to the broader continuing-care structure — medication management plus ongoing therapy and coordinated care. Most patients on maintenance are also in aftercare.
Does insurance cover MAT aftercare?
Most commercial insurance covers continuing care under mental health and substance use benefits. Coverage design may vary between acute and continuing phases; we confirm specifics. Reach us at (747) 888-3000.

If You’re in Crisis

If you or someone you love is in immediate crisis, help is available 24/7. You are not alone.

Trusted External Resources

Independent, evidence-based sources on the topics covered on this page:

SAMHSA — Continuing Care →

SAMHSA’s overview of continuing care.

National Institute on Drug Abuse →

NIH research on long-term MAT outcomes.

American Psychiatric Association →

APA’s guidance on long-term substance use care.

FDA — Information About MOUD →

FDA drug information on maintenance medications.

City of Calabasas →

Municipal community services and public safety resources.

Ready to Talk About MAT Aftercare?

Our admissions team can walk you through what treatment looks like, verify insurance benefits, and answer questions. Conversations are confidential.

Call us confidentially at (747) 888-3000 — or request a consultation online.

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